School Pupils Complete Construction Skills Challenges

Pupils from local schools competed in three different construction skills challenges organised by staff at Derby College Group (DCG).

Fifty five pupils from John Flamsteed Community School, Murray Park Community School, Royal School for the Deaf Derby, Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy, Belper School and Castle Donington College competed in Brickwork, Painting and Decorating and Plastering challenges.  

Meanwhile, pupils from Brackenfield Special School, alongside a young person who is home educated, competed in the Carpentry and Joinery competition.

The competition was organised by DCG’s Construction Academy at the Roundhouse Technical and Professional Skills college and the 14-16 Schools team who coordinate vocational programmes at the College for year 10 and 11 school pupils as part of an extended curriculum offer.

They were supported by College staff and full-time students – many of whom had competed in the challenge as school pupils in previous years – and cheered on by more than 60 school staff, parents and employers.

The Brickwork competition, judged by College assessor Gary Mangnall and Kevin Dodds from GF Tomlinson, first place went to Kieran Sanders (John Flamsteed), second to Raife Poplar (Belper School) and Jordan Bird (John Flamsteed).

The Plastering competition was judged by Dave Kehoe from British Gypsum who also donated prizes and goody bags for the students. John Flamsteed’s Toby Foulke and Jonathan McFarlane came first and third, with Liam Stevenson from Murray Park taking second prize.

Murray Park students Ellena Dean and Yosef Adamu came first and third in the Painting and Decorating competition with Callum Kelly from Royal School for the Deaf Derby taking second place, this category was judged by Craig Tansley, a college assessor. 

T-shirts for all the students taking part in the painting and decorating category, as well as prizes totalling £100, were donated by Brewers Decorator Centre.

The Carpentry and Joinery competition for Brackenfield Special School was won by Harry Tracey, Raymond Shelbourne and Tye-Rhis Marshall. 

It was judged by Louis Howarth, Talsa Middleton an Adam Fox from Howarth Timber and Building Supplies who also provided materials for this and the Painting and Decorating competition. Howarth Timber and Building Supplies also kindly sponsored t-shirts for all fifty five competitors.

DCG Head of Construction Eileen Swan presented the prizes alongside Team Manager David Binks.

Eileen said: “The competition is designed to showcase the school pupils’ skills that they have developed during their time here and to highlight employment opportunities, apprenticeships and full time study programme opportunities that are open to them after leaving school.

“It was wonderful that so many teachers and parents came along to support the competitors and see just how far they have come.

“We are particularly grateful to the employers who have supported the event.  The feedback was that they were very impressed with the standard of the work completed and have earmarked several of the young men and women for potential apprenticeships in the future.”